Well rod gripper



Patented Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED STATS JOHN L. BARDEN, F NEW Yoan MILLS, isrrlvivnsoTArl WELL ROD GRIPPER Application filed May 12, 1930. Serial BT04451322.

This invention relates to a gripping device adapted to grip a well rod or other rod whichv may be located some distance down in a casing or pipe. Such a device is sometimes called a fishing tool or drill rod grab and is often used where wells are being drilled, to recover broken rods and drills.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and eliicient device by means of o which the well rod or other article can be easily and quickly engaged and securely gripped so as to beremoved.

It is a further object of the invention t0 provide a simple and efficient device for gripping a rod or similar article having gripping jaws with simple and easily operated means for causing the same to grip the rod or other article. j

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide a gripping device comprising a member havinga pair of spaced gripping jaws resiliently movable away from each other, together with a sleeve adapted to be moved relatively to said jaws to compress the same and move them together to grip an article, relative movement between thev jaws and said last mentioned member being caused by a threaded rod.

These and other objects and advantages of following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, inl which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in Whichz- Y Y Fig. 1 is a central' vertical section through the device and a casing in which it may b-e used;

Fi .2 is a vertical section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrows, and

Fig. 4 is a partial view similar to Fig. 1

showing the jaws of the device in separated position.

Referring to lthe drawings, a device is shown comprising a member 10 of general inverted U-shape having a hub 10a at its upper portion from which arms Y10b` diverge andj extend downwardly in substantially parallel the invention will be fully set forth in the relation, said arms curving toward eachother Vand merging into `said hub at their upper ends. Arms 10?) vat their lower endsjhave conveXly curved outer surfaces 10c and also' have conveXly curved inner surfaces sothat the endsare ormedrsubstantially into an edge. Said arms have projecting inwardly from their inner vsides jawslOd which. are sharply edged'. As shownin Fig. 3, the armsl 10b at their lower jaw-carrying -portions have their outer and inner surfaces extending sub"- stantially in concentric relation about the'center of hub 10a. l The'inner sides of jaws 10d v are also substantially concentric with the cenl ter of hub 10a and are thus of concave form. 65 Another member 11 is provided, the same also being of inverted U-shape andghavinga top hubv 11a from which diverge and i extend downwardly a pair of 'arms' 11b, said arms j being secured at their lower ends to a ring 110. The inner side of ring `110 is conveXly curved as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. `-Iub 11a is threaded to receive the threaded end of a' rod 12 which alsoextends through a` bore in hub saidrod having secured thereto acollar 13, said collar being secured'by a pin 14 passing therethrough and through rod v12. Collar 13 abuts the upper yend of hub 10a. f*

In operation, if a wellv rod, drill or other! article, suchasfillustrated as^15 `is to be f gripped, rod 12 will befturned to lower meniber 11 and ringtllcrelatively to the member 10 andthe arms-105; When ring 110 islthus lowered, arms 10b-will spring apartdue to the convex surfaces 100.' The tool carried-'on rod? 12 can thenbe lowered into `the casing such'as shown as lGin'Figs'. 'lla-nd 2 or into the hole where the rod to be gripped is located. The ends ofarms 10b having the sharp lower edges are placed overthe end of the'rod 15 to be 9()v gripped. lThe jaws 10d at this time passat either side of said rod. 'W hen the device has been thus positioned about the end of the rod Y ring-'110 Vmoves upalong the outer sides of arms 10?) and along the surfaces 100, it will act as a cam againstsuriaces 10c and move arms 10b toward feachfotlier thus causing the i jaws 10d to'irmly grip. the rod '15.- The jaws 160 y will be held in this gripping position by ring 110 and the rod 15 can be lifted by raising rod 12. When the rod 15 has been raised out of the casing 16 the jaws can be released by turning rod 12 in the opposite direction. As stated, when ring 110 is moved downwardly or relatively to member 12 the jaws will release due to the resiliency of arms 10b.

VFrom the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a very simple and efficient gripping device particularlyy adapted for gripping well rods, drills or other members which are some distance down in a casing or hole. The device comprises very few parts and can be inexpensively made. At the same time the parts are quite rugged and can thus bemade quite durable. The device is easily and quickly operated and is positive in action. The same has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful and efficient. .Y

Y It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, proportions and arrangement' of the parts 'without departing `from the scope of appli-1 cants invention, which, generally stated,

shaped member 4and carrying a ring at its lower end, said ring having inner surfaces adapted to engage said convex surfaces on said arms and move the same together and means extendingvthrough the top of said 'rst mentioned memberand threaded into the top of said'second mentioned member for caus ing relative movement of said members to move said ring longitudinally of said arms.

2. A gripping tool having in combination a member provided with a pair of spaced depending arms, said arms having lnwardly directed jaws adjacent their lower ends, the outer surfaces of said arms adjacent said lower ends being covex, a second depending member straddling first said mentioned member and carrying a ring atits lower end, said ring surrounding said arms and being adapted Vto engage said convex surfaces ,to move said arms' together and means extending through said first mentioned member and threadedinto the top of said second mentioned member for causing relative longitudii nal movement of said members.

Y In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN L. BARDEN. .y f 

